second shot ⊗ open may log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests and things like random snowballs thrown around in the training grounds
🕒 WHEN: throughout May
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except for any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: snowball mayhem

[After a month of getting the basics down, it's time to try and take it to the next step...which really isn't all that big, but progress is progress. Although his specialty seems to be in lightning magic, he feels out which element he might be able to use more easily next—and turns out it's ice. Given his familiar is a snow wolf and his own snowy origins, that might not be too surprising. And this same wolf is going to cause him problems.

While trying to focus on the output of energy for creating basic ice patches and shards of ice the size of small daggers, he feels something wet and cold hit the back of his head. Turning around he sees his familiar with a wolfish grin, a snowball floating in the air as her tail wags slyly from the side to side.]

I'm in the middle of training, this is no time to—

[He ducks his head to the side to avoid the oncoming snowball (so hopefully someone else didn't get hit—). He tries to go back to his exercises, but when he feels another snowball pelt him, a brow twitches and he gives his wolf a look before it occurs to him that maybe this "play" might not be the worst idea as a form of training. Slowly he extends his hand and concentrates. It's small, half the size of his palm, but a ball of snow forms. Seeing it his familiar's eyes brighten and more appear around her.]

Fine, have it your way.

[And so there is a strange sight of the Erune chucking small to medium size snowballs at a wolf who returns fire—and cheats by firing multiple. So if anyone is around the Training Grounds, they may or may not get suddenly hit by stray snowballs totally his wolf's fault—.]

⊗ b: task - no buccaing out

[Being underwater...is not something he's really used to, but with his animal magic he might be able to do something. Anyway, time to strategize as they gear up for the dive! Or are already swimming down there.]

I did some research and these nudibranchs do have their own natural predators. I'm not confident I could transform into one of them and be able to fight them, but I could try communicating with any nearby to help. [They'd probably like a free meal.] Unfortunately my strength is in lightning magic and I'm only beginning to work on ice, so those might not be as useful.

You?

[Of course he could try transforming into a crab or turtle, but he'll be open to other ideas and using whatever strengths they have.]

⊗ c: task - holo, goodbye (a dunked wolf)

[Seems like a straightforward quest and for a good cause, and when he arrives at the river he can't help but watch the rocks and festive faeries in some appreciative wonder. It might not be all that quiet being a festive time and all, but it is a reflection of a type of peace he can appreciate. So despite the "noise," he's rather relaxed and just takes his time to somewhat enjoy the atmosphere.

But right. Job to do. He'll be crouching down by the banks, deliberating on which rock to take and whether he should try wading further out to inspect the others (he has a feeling this old woman is going to get quite a lot of these...). Just as he's reaching down to take pluck a potential candidate out, he hears some mischievous giggling. He can already guess some of the more playful (and probably drunk) faeries and pixies are plotting something, but he pays little mind.

Until one flies up to brush against his ears. He's momentarily distracted and glances up at the one who had bothered him, but realizes a bit too late it was a diversion. There's a strong gust of a wind, a loosening of soil, and...]

—!

[KERSPLASH! That is one Society agent being sent straight into the water. He's at least able to catch himself, but there's a small wave of water that splashes him as well. And although he can't see or hear it, he can sense his familiar rolling around laughing at his demise. He'll just sigh and stand, shaking off the water.

And if someone happens to be around to witness and staring at him, he'll just stare back and ask in a flat voice:]

Want me to pick a rock for you?

[HE'S ALREADY IN HERE, MIGHT AS WELL.

Otherwise, when not soaked, he may be found sitting under a tree observing the faerie festivities, his hand idly brushing through his familiar's fur as she rests her head on his lap.]

⊗ d: honey over vinegar

[Eustace is between options for which would be the best (except war, that one is out), and he finds himself going through the various gatherings to hear more on each side's perspective. Really he hadn't intended to be part of this, but a basket got shoved in his hands and he's in the orchard. ...Well, maybe he can use this for a training exercise—specifically his animal transformations. Dogs he has down pat, but what about other animals? So don't mind if you witness a small silvery, gray bird or a floofy cat of similar coloring flying and climbing up trees to gather the sweets.

And if someone is by a wasp filled nest, they'll hear the bird or cat suddenly speak out to them.]

Watch it, there's a wasp's nest. I'll get them for you, just tell me what you want.

[Of course he limits his transformations to when he's actually about to be in the tree so as not to use too much of his energy.]

⊗ e: bullheaded approach

[Can this city not have attacks or something he's only been here for a month and it seems to be in constant peril—

1. A Stone's Throw from Revenge: Dog Rescue. When a boulder crashes into a building nearby, Eustace's first instinct is to check if anyone is hurt or trapped. Although he'd like to deal with the minotaur as well, helping the people is his current priority—and he ends up forming a kind of "dog search" rescue team. So anyone helping might suddenly find a wolfish dog bounding in.]

I hear voices, dig over here!

[Don't question the deep voiced, wolf, move people! A few other dogs Eustace managed to gather will also help in trying to find and dig out anyone in need. Perhaps it's you who needs help?

And for anyone who wants to hunt down the Minotaur, Eustace will be more than willing to oblige as a partner.

2. There's Safety in Numbers. Whether on purpose or on accident, the two are now bound together thanks to the recipe, and depending on who he's stuck with, this could be fine or a disaster. Regardless, it's not very ideal and he just presses his fingertips to his brows as he sighs.]

Since there's nothing to be done, let's coordinate our movements and try not to get in each other's way.

[They are ultimately supposed to be helping the affected victims so...this can be done, right?]

⊗ f: wildcard

[If interested in anything not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[tantailizing]

Skydoms, huh? That's pretty cool...

[Must be some kind of magic that keeps the islands floating because he can't think of how else that might work if something even the size of a small island could stay in the sky.] So, no one knows what's on the surface in your world?

[flamekthunder]

No. Because it's so obscured and the distance presumably great, there are theories, but anyone who has tried to venture down there haven't returned. Part of the issue is the air buoyancy. After a certain point, airships are incapable of staying afloat and will plummet.

[tantailizing]

Wow, that sucks. You guys could be missing out on a whole other world entirely and not know it.

[Also this issue with air buoyancy... sounds like something that would interest Cid.]

[flamekthunder]

... [He just looks at Zidane with an almost weary expression.]

We have enough problems as it is. If something lives down there, as long as it doesn't poses as a threat it can just stay there as far as I care.

[Although he has a feeling it won't be as peaceful as he'd like.]

[tantailizing]

... By now, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those lost explorers had managed, but I guess you gotta point. Your question from before makes it sound like you guys have enough of a power struggle living where you are to deal with anything else.

[Which was unfortunate in other ways.]

[flamekthunder]

That's one way of putting it.

[Internal affairs, external affairs... All he wants is peace and quiet, but it'll be achieved one day.]

[tantailizing]

... Well, guess you can consider being here a small break from everything. Heck, if you decide something's not worth getting mixed in, you can probably avoid it here.

[Eustace, this place might be vacation.]

[flamekthunder]

[Now he just gives Zidane a flat look.]

I'm sure others might feel that way, but this is still a mission to save our worlds.

[This is Eustace, Major Buzzkill.]

[tantailizing]

Yeah, and that way's to collect magic, but what the hell do they even mean by that? Are they collecting magic as we use it, or by bringing more of us here? If it's taking this long already, we have some time to kill.

[Also, saying that with a puppy in his lap... Eustace, ya dink.]

[flamekthunder]

[...Fine, that's a fair point but Eustace can't really relax about it. In the end he just murmurs under his breath:]

...It is odd.

[Shush, the puppy is his comfort animal.]

[tantailizing]

I think we'll better find out if we can reach this Fairy Queen. But until everyone decides some something, let's eat.

[Because it looks like their food's here. How long have they been talking?]

[flamekthunder]

[He can't really feel that "relaxed" as he once again questions what the hell they are doing in this world...but he also knows there's no point in going against it when there's no other alternative. So Zidane might have some of a point and he eventually settles in to eat.

...

Except...

Except when the plate is placed in front of him, he stiffens.

How...HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO EAT THIS!? WHY DIDN'T THEY SHOW THE PICTURE??? Sure he expected some kind of dog theme, maybe a puppy face, BUT THIS?????? ISN'T THIS TOO MUCH????]

[tantailizing]

[Zidane's kinda surprised Eustace ordered what he did. He had pointed out the picture, buuut maybe he hadn't read that it was the special?]

[One of those 'oh well' moments.]

[Meanwhile, his sandwiches are similarly cute in a way, but he doesn't seem so perturbed.]

Hehe, looks great!

[flamekthunder]

[He was probably distracted by all the cute designs that he did indeed miss the picture was for the special and thought it was something else.]

................Hm.

[How is he. Going. To do this.]

[tantailizing]

[Tail curled and waving behind him, Zidane's ready to take a bite... but he looks across to Eustace.]

... Everything okay?

[Dude, you're not gonna starve over this, are you?]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace is very much considering abstaining from eating, but he also knows that's...dumb. It's just food.

...

...

But it's so hard.]

........It's nothing, it's just...really well made.

[tantailizing]

[... Gods dammit, Eustace.]

True... why not take a picture of it?

[flamekthunder]

[He has regrets, okay. He has learned his listen and will make proper inquiries about his meals from now on (gods he's not going to be like Cassius and ask about every menu item is he—no, no he won't fall that far—)]

A picture?

[Just looking at Zidane like he just made the most bizarre suggestion he's ever heard.

Which it is.

Why would he take picture of the food...?]

[tantailizing]

[He shrugs.]

You can't really save it by staring at it. It's still food.

[Maybe if he nudges it with a spoon? Break the image of the dog, then would Eustace eat? It's a tempting thought.]

[flamekthunder]

[Don't you dare touch it, Zidane, unless you want your hand cut off. Okay, not really, but Eustace would n o t be happy.

For now he just looks at the plate with a conflicted expression.]

...I just never considered taking pictures of food... Seems a bit extreme.

[.. ... ... Although.. ... ...

........

Maybe...it wouldn't...be the worst idea...

He may look conflicted, but he's starting to look a little thoughtful and seems to be seriously deliberating it.]

[tantailizing]

[Eat your food, dammit. Aren't you the adult between them?]

[Zidane tilts his head.]

Seems like there's people that do it all the time...

[The internet was still weird to him, but hey, people like it.]

[While Eustace deliberates, Zidane's going to eat. Hooray, food.]

[flamekthunder]

[Shush this is a c r i s i s.]

...Is that so?

[...He can honestly see a few people he knows doing the same, and when he looks up he notices many people in the neighboring tables are taking pictures of their orders, some even doing silly poses or holding a puppy.

...

........

He feels a bit silly, but... There is a strange desire to do so, and it's worsened when the pup in his lap stirs, most likely smelling the food nearby. With its little paws and mouth resting on the edge of the table staring at Eustace's food, all resolve is shattered and before he knows it, Eustace has his phone out and has taken a picture.]

—Ah.

[WHEN DID HE—]

[tantailizing]

Ah...

[Oh shit, he actually took the photo.]

[ZIDANE HAD KINDA BEEN JOKING, but okay, you know what? Not gonna judge.]

[Nope, just gonna slowly continue eating... even if his tail is wagging behind him.]

[flamekthunder]

[Shut it, Zidane.

Eustace just. Kind of stares at the photo taken before quietly slipping his phone back into his pocket and... Starts to eat. Slowly. Though no, whining pup, none for you because this probably isn't good for you.]